What is a wiki
A wiki is a type of website that is easy to edit, can have multiple pages and multiple authors. "Wiki" comes from Hawaiian, meaning "quick." Wikispaces is a company that hosts a wiki environment.
Author
Can have MULTIPLE authors editing various pages, plus the ability to lock down pages so they are not edited. Only ONE PERSON can edit a page at a time (cannot edit simultaneously - if simultaneous editing is required, consider using a Google Doc).
Content
Text, graphics, images, embedded media
Appearance
Similar to a traditional website with content spread across pages. Recent edits can be viewed on the “History” tab; Discussion on each page in the "Discussion" tab. Ability to receive notifications of changes on individual pages.Discussion can take place on the “Discussion” tab. The Discussion feature can be at the page or wiki level, depending on your wiki setup and service
Nature of the environment
Collaborative Content Authoring, where the content is built on the page and can be inserted at any location on any page.
I need help! Visit the Wiki Tours or click on "Help" in the upper right corner of the page - or call/email me!
Examples
The most famous wiki - Wikipedia - is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation (scroll to the bottom of the page to see all the Foundation's projects)
Guiding questions for exploration:
1. Who is the intended audience of the wiki?
2. What kinds of information/content are posted?
3. Can you find the history feature?
4. What is the purpose of this wiki?
professional presence
Toni Theisen - this is Toni's professional page - you will find links to her other wikis, including student wikis
. Let's edit - the Demo Wiki is a public, open wiki - to give you an experience in the editing environment.
Discuss: How is a wiki different from a regular website, blog, or social media site such as facebook? More ideas for the classroom 50 Ways to Use Wikis is from 2008 so some links on the page may be outdated, but nonetheless the page has some good ideas!
Check out Inforemix for various projects that use a variety of mediums, "mashing up" information across mediums. Many of the projects are described within the context of a blog or wiki, with the final product also embedded in a blog or wiki.
Design and Development Considerations
design.jpg
Designing and Planning a New Wiki
Who is your intended audience and/or coauthors for your wiki?
What kinds of information will your wiki contain?
Will you be creating the basic structure of the wiki (pages and initial content)?
Think about how you may use the features of the wiki environment:
Security - will your wiki be public, protected or private?
Discussion - members of your wiki can discuss on each page of the wiki
History - all changes are recorded, so you can see a time stamp as well as specifically what change was made.
We need to help students understand the ethical use of technology, including respecting other people's content. They will be expected to behave ethically in the workplace.
Creative Commons - read more about the licensing that allows content owners to make their work available on the internet. Works can be licensed for commercial and non commercial purposes.
Students and educators should not simply "grab" images from Google; locating and using appropriate sources and the ethical use of media should be modeled!
Locating photographs and visuals for educational use
flickr Search for Creative Commons licensed products
Enter a term in the flickr search box, click search, then click on the "Advanced Search" link, scroll and select "Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content"
Google Images - Search for images "labeled for reuse"
Enter a term in the google search box, then click on the "Advanced Search" link, look for the drop down field for "Usage Rights" and select "Labeled for reuse"; click the Google Search button to complete your search
Stock.xchnghas both free and for-purchase images. Registration is required. Note the terms of use of each item. Individuals may upload content to the site and add terms.
stockvault - free stock photos and images for personal, educational and non-commercial use
WorldImages - over 80,000 images free for non-profit educational use
Whenever an image is going to be used, even when licensed under a Creative Commons license or an image available for educational use, credit should be given to the original owner.
A wiki is a type of website that is easy to edit, can have multiple pages and multiple authors. "Wiki" comes from Hawaiian, meaning "quick." Wikispaces is a company that hosts a wiki environment.
This CommonCraft video provides a nice overview and quick video explanation of what a wiki is.
Wikis in Plain English http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english
Author
Can have MULTIPLE authors editing various pages, plus the ability to lock down pages so they are not edited. Only ONE PERSON can edit a page at a time (cannot edit simultaneously - if simultaneous editing is required, consider using a Google Doc).
Content
Text, graphics, images, embedded media
Appearance
Similar to a traditional website with content spread across pages. Recent edits can be viewed on the “History” tab; Discussion on each page in the "Discussion" tab. Ability to receive notifications of changes on individual pages.Discussion can take place on the “Discussion” tab. The Discussion feature can be at the page or wiki level, depending on your wiki setup and service
Nature of the environment
Collaborative Content Authoring, where the content is built on the page and can be inserted at any location on any page.
Where can I get one?For educators, wikispaces (go to http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers)
and pbworks (www.pbworks.com) have advertisement-free spaces.Or, you can install wiki software on your own website hosting plan if you have one.
I need help! Visit the Wiki Tours or click on "Help" in the upper right corner of the page - or call/email me!
Examples
The most famous wiki - Wikipedia - is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation (scroll to the bottom of the page to see all the Foundation's projects)
Guiding questions for exploration:
1. Who is the intended audience of the wiki?
2. What kinds of information/content are posted?
3. Can you find the history feature?
4. What is the purpose of this wiki?
- Collections of wikis
- Educational Wikis provides a rationale and examples for K-12
- Educational Wikis provides a rationale and examples for K-12
.Let's edit - the Demo Wiki is a public, open wiki - to give you an experience in the editing environment.
Discuss: How is a wiki different from a regular website, blog, or social media site such as facebook?
More ideas for the classroom
50 Ways to Use Wikis is from 2008 so some links on the page may be outdated, but nonetheless the page has some good ideas!
17 Interesting Ways to Use a Wiki in the Classroom is Tom Barrett's open Google Doc where anyone can contribute ideas
Check out Inforemix for various projects that use a variety of mediums, "mashing up" information across mediums. Many of the projects are described within the context of a blog or wiki, with the final product also embedded in a blog or wiki.
Design and Development Considerations
Designing and Planning a New Wiki
Need some quick help with wikispaces? Check out the brief video tutorials - http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#files
And, click on the help button on the top right hand corner of this page for all of wikispace's help files!
Copyright
As educators we must model ethical use of media. Know your copyright and fair use guidelines! The U.S. Copyright office has a quick reference on fair use as well as an In depth publication, Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians (PDF)We need to help students understand the ethical use of technology, including respecting other people's content. They will be expected to behave ethically in the workplace.
Creative Commons - read more about the licensing that allows content owners to make their work available on the internet. Works can be licensed for commercial and non commercial purposes.
Students and educators should not simply "grab" images from Google; locating and using appropriate sources and the ethical use of media should be modeled!
Locating photographs and visuals for educational use
Whenever an image is going to be used, even when licensed under a Creative Commons license or an image available for educational use, credit should be given to the original owner.